Learn what grows good in your area, I grew up in central Texas, so peppers, squash, zucchini, okra, tomatos, beans, asparagus, brussel sprouts are surprisingly hardy, radishes, garlic, onions. Sorghum was planted in the fields around us so corn never took off, and we haven't had any luck with potatoes.
The way we had our garden set up was, rows 1 1/2 - 2ft apart for drainage, easier pickings, re-mounding, and grow space. Row setup was: east to west, corn (as shade and a wind break), tomatos, peppers, other peppers, radishes/ sprouts, squash/ zucchini, okra, and asparagus.
